Letters

NOVEMBER JLC 2000
Shepherds & Blacksmiths
To the Editor:
As a long time subscriber, and a
career high school Technology
Education teacher, I read with interest
your article describing the decline in
high school vo-tech programs
(Notebook, 9/00). I agree with the observation
that "most educators think you
shouldn't do specific occupational
training at the high school level." By
constraint of time, this training is at
the expense of general education
courses, and thus deprives vo-tech students
of a more comprehensive preparation
for life, which in our world
involves continual learning.
I have always encouraged students to
consider careers in the construction
industry — but only after finishing a
comprehensive high school and at least
trying college. The world is changing far
too